Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and China agreed on steps to strengthen the strategic partnership agreement the two countries signed in April 2005.
Indonesia`s minister of trade Mari Elka Pangestu and her Chinese counterpart Chen Deming signed "Agreed Minutes of The Meeting for Further Strengthening Economic and Trade Cooperation" at the 10th Indonesia-China Joint Commission Meeting here on Saturday.
"The agreement contains steps the two countries will jointly take to settle problems faced by certain sectors as a result of the implementation of the Asean-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA)," Mari said after the signing ceremony.
Mari said the agreement was part of the efforts that had been taken to ease the worries of several industries in the country following the implementation of the ACFTA.
On the occasion the two countries also agreed to set sustained bilateral trade growth. "In case of a trade imbalance the party that enjoys a surplus is obliged to take steps including boosting imports and giving needed support," she said.
In the meeting the two countries also agreed several main agreements namely among others the Chinese government will facilitate access for several Indonesian tropical agricultural products particularly fruits such as bananas, pineapples, "rambutan" and swallow bird`s nest to enter the Chinese market.
"Right now, Indonesia has already exported several kinds of fruits to China such as mangosteen and Zalacca palm fruits. Several other tropical fruits would follow soon," she said.
China has also agreed in the meeting to allow state-owned Bank Mandiri to open a branch in that country for strengthening direct banking transactions between the two countries.
Minister Chen Deming meanwhile said several infrastructure development projects would be carried out in Indonesia such as the steam power plant in West Kalimantan, toll roads between Medan and Kuala Namu in North Sumatra, bridge development in West Kalimantan and a toll road in West Java and a bridge in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.
"China has already helped Indonesia in infrastructute development projects such as the Suramadu bridge in East Java and coal-fired power plant in Labuhan Angin.
The agreement made at the 10th JCM marked the 60th anniversary of the two countries` bilateral cooperation, he said.(*)
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